Lilja's Library

by Hans-Ake Lilja

  ****

  Hollywood’s Stephen King

  Posted: November 26, 2003

  Hollywood’s Stephen King is an overview of many of King’s movies. Tony Magistrale, the book’s author, has taken a look at the movies and is providing a deeper insight than most of the books about King’s movies do.

  There are chapters like The Lost Children, Maternal Archetypes, Paternal Archetypes, Technologies of Fright and more. The problem that I see with this book is that it’s a bit too deep. Tony himself, when describing the existing books about King’s movies, says in the book’s preface that “Each of these texts is primarily concerned with satisfying the average fan’s curiosity about the making of King’s movies - cataloging technical data, plotline evolution, credits, budgets, on-location gossip, King’s own evaluation of the finished product—essentially, the data behind the production history of each film.”

  Well, personally, I enjoy books like that, books like Creepshows: The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Guide by Stephen Jones, and even though I think Tony does as well, I feel that he thinks they are a bit shallow.

  I’m not saying that Hollywood’s Stephen King is a bad book (because it certainly isn’t), but it felt a bit too deep for me when I read it. I know I sound like a hillbilly saying that, but I have always had problems analyzing things. I like when you get a lighter description of the movie and the kind of background Tony mentions in the quote above. I want to read what King thinks about the movie, plotline evolution and, most of all, what happened on the set, the gossip, etc. I guess I’m more of a gossip person than an analytical person…

  So, from that perspective, Hollywood’s Stephen King is the wrong book for me. But after reading it I must say that I didn’t totally dislike it. It’s not as good as Creepshow: The Illustrated Stephen King Movie Guide, but it’s still an interesting read. There is an interview with King from May 2002 that is really worth reading.

  Lilja’s final words about Hollywood’s Stephen King

  So, should you get this book? Well, if you want to get a deeper analysis of King’s movies this is definitely the book for you. Personally, I think it’s somewhat interesting to analyze King’s movies, but still, this was too much like being back in school for me…

  ****

  The Journals of Eleanor Druse

  Posted: January 26, 2004

  The Journals of Eleanor Druse: My Investigation of the Kingdom Hospital Incident is a journal written by Eleanor Druse, a character from King’s Kingdom Hospital. She then sent it to King, who helped her get it published. (At least, that is what they want us to believe.) Mrs. Druse is a fictional character from the upcoming TV series Kingdom Hospital by King. Whoever actually wrote the book is a well-guarded secret that not many people know…

  In the journal, Mrs. Druse speaks about the things that happened to her at Kingdom Hospital in Lewiston, Maine. She is called to the hospital by her son (who works there) because a friend of hers, Madelene Kruger, who has tried to kill herself, is asking for her. When she arrives at her friend’s room she finds her dead—she has succeeded with a second suicide attempt. This is the start of a series of events that all leads back to when Mrs. Druse and Madelene were young girls and admitted to the hospital. Something happened to them back then, and someone who was there with them hasn’t gotten her peace yet. Now it’s up to Mrs. Druse to find out what and who…

  The journal is an introduction to the TV series, Kingdom Hospital, that will premier on ABC on March 3. We don’t get all of the answers by reading the book, but my guess is that we will once the series starts airing. The journal is a background to the TV series and only at the end does it tie into the series itself.

  We get introduced to a lot of the characters who will later appear in the series. We get to read about Mrs. Druse and her son, of course, but also the obnoxious Dr. Stegman and a lot of other characters. So, you better make sure you read it before you see the TV series. I guess you could read it after, but it’s intended to be read before…it kind of kicks the series off.

  Also, there’s the issue of who actually wrote the book. Did King himself write it or has someone else written it? When I read it I get a feeling that it’s written by an old lady, just like Mrs. Druse…but as you know, that doesn’t have to be the case. It’s the feeling you get, though, and that’s what the author wanted to accomplish when he/she wrote it. So, no matter who wrote it, it feels like it’s written by Mrs. Druse, and who knows, maybe she is really out there…good old Mrs. Druse…

  Anyhow, the book is well-written and it was a really nice read. The only problem I have with it is that I want more. I want to know what happens after the journal ends. My hope is that I will after I have seen the series, though, but as you all know, waiting is never any fun.

  Lilja’s final words about The Journals of Eleanor Druse

  Whether The Journals of Eleanor Druse: My Investigation of the Kingdom Hospital Incident is written by King, Mrs. Druse or anyone else doesn’t really matter. If you’re a King fan and if you plan to watch the TV series you should get a copy and read it—it’s as simple as that!

  Oh, and check out the title on the cover, it glows in the dark…

  Section 5—The Almost

  Walpuski’s Typewriter

  Posted: April 29, 2005

  Frank Darabont as an author—is that really possible? Well, I didn’t know he had written a book until just recently, and frankly I was a bit skeptical, but at the same time I got curious as to what the book, Walpuski’s Typewriter, would be like. So, I decided that since I like Frank’s movies, I was going to try the book. And let me tell you, I was blown away…totally blown away! Walpuski’s Typewriter is just that good!

  It’s a really short book—just over one hundred pages—so maybe it’s more of a novella than a book, but what you call it doesn’t really matter. It tells the story about writer Howard Walpuski, who is a failure. One day he walks into Cyril Pratt’s shop to get his typewriter fixed—something he shouldn’t have done. Not only does Cyril Pratt fix his typewriter, he makes it so that Howard’s life turns around for the better…or at least, it seems like it at first.

  The only problem is that Howard has to pay a very high price for his success. A price no man should have to pay.

  You can see very early on that authors like Stephen King influenced Frank when he wrote Walpuski’s Typewriter. The story feels like a mix of an old King short story and an episode of Twilight Zone with a big dose of black humor mixed in. The tone of the story is a perfect mix.

  Walpuski’s Typewriter is a very easy read and, as I said earlier, it’s fairly short. This means that you can read it in one sitting without any problem, and this is in favor of the story. Not that I don’t think that Frank has a longer novel in him, but I’m glad this one isn’t longer than it is—it’s just as long as it should be!

  Another thing that is very good about the book is that it has illustrations by Bernie Wrightson, whom King fans will recognize from books like The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla, The Stand, Cycle of the Werewolf and Creepshow. I haven’t seen all of the illustrations since they aren’t in the ARC, but you can see some over at Cemetery Dance. As usual, the illustrations are very nice!

  Lilja’s final words about Walpuski’s Typewriter

  So, to sum it up, don’t miss Walpuski’s Typewriter. In my opinion, it could very well be one of the best books released in 2005. Yes, it is that good!

  ****

  The Night Country

  Posted: May 10, 2005

  I first read something that Stewart O’Nan had written when I read Faithful, which he co-authored with Stephen King, and I liked what I read. I liked his style so much that I decided to try one of his own books. It ended up being The Night Country, which I don’t regret.

  The Night Country is about three teenagers who return from the dead on Halloween, one year after they died in a car accident, as well as the relatives to the ones who died and the ones who didn’t. In the car that fateful night was
Danielle, Marco and Toe, who all died in the crash. But, they were not alone. In the car with them were also Tim and Kyle. Both Tim and Kyle survive—Tim uninjured, but Kyle damaged for life. He got injured so badly that he can’t do the simplest things anymore and needs help with everything.

  Now, one year after the crash, Tim plans to relive the crash, but this time he doesn’t plan on surviving.

  The nice and unusual thing about The Night Country is that it’s told largely from the “ghosts’” point of view. They are always present when someone is thinking about them; invisible and unable to interfere, they have to watch and listen to the living whether they want to or not.

  Even though this is a ghost story, it’s not a scary one. The ghosts are more like ordinary characters in the story, just like any of the living ones. I really like the technique Stewart uses when he tells the story. It’s unusual and fresh, at least in my mind.

  The book is perfect to start your Stewart O’Nan reading career with as it’s fairly short, just over two hundred pages, and a pretty easy read.

  Lilja’s final words about The Night Country

  As I said, this is the only book I have read by Stewart O’Nan, but if the others are as good as this one my guess is that he’ll be around for a long time. In other words, go get it!

  ****

  lost boy, lost girl (audio)

  Posted: September 20, 2005

  lost boy, lost girl is a book by Peter Straub that I have just finished, and I have to say that besides his collaborations with King this is probably the best Straub book I have read (listened to). And, it’s narrated by Ron McLarty, who could probably read a what-to-do list and sound good. Yes, he really is that good. I just love to listen to books narrated by him!

  The story is also very good. It has a lot of Black House in it, though, and you get the feeling that lost boy, lost girl really is inspired by Black House. The feeling of the book is the same as the one in Black House, but it quickly develops into its own story and its own book.

  Straub tells the story of a woman who commits suicide for no apparent reason, and a week later her son vanishes from the face of the earth. We then get to follow the boy’s uncle in his search for the boy. The story also involves a house that may be the home of a serial killer, or is it maybe a ghost? You decide; the essential part of the ending is actually up to the reader (listener) to decide.

  One objection to this audio edition though: it is an abridged version of the book. This means that it has been shortened in the transfer to audio. I have no idea what has been cut and I certainly didn’t feel that there were parts missing when I listened to it, but if you have read the book first you might be a bit disappointed.

  ****

  Lilja’s final words about lost boy, lost girl

  OK, this audio is abridged, but I still think you should check it out. It’s a good story, read by one of the masters in book narrating, Ron McLarty.

  ****

  Assassination Vacation (audio)

  Posted: September 20, 2005

  I have just finished Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell, and since it’s not the kind of book you would suspect to find a review of here, let me tell you why it’s here. As you have probably suspected, King is involved somehow. He actually has a cameo (if you can call it that when you talk about an audiobook) here. He narrates the part of President Abraham Lincoln.

  Even though Assassination Vacation isn’t really the kind of book I usually pick up, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s sort of a history book, but not one of those boring ones. The story is told in a rather humorous and relaxed way. You learn and at the same time you’re entertained…how about that?

  We get to come along as Vowell takes a vacation and travels in the footsteps of presidential assassins. She reports about the travels as she visits the places. Vowell has, as I have already told you, a very humorous way of telling the stories she finds, and that makes it easy to listen to. But, please be warned, her voice is very, very special. It took me quite some time to get used to it. I almost put the CD player down when I first heard her, but please, stick with it, you do get used to it and eventually you get to like it. In the end, it’s perfect for the book.

  Other guest narrators you can hear on this CD are Conan O’Brien, Dave Eggers and Catherine Keener, among others.

  Lilja’s final words about Assassination Vacation (audio)

  If you want a lesson in presidential assassinations, this is really the book for you. If you want a King book, this is not the book for you.

  ****

  Blue November Storms

  Posted: October 5, 2005

  I just finished Blue November Storms by Brian Freeman, who is also known for his trivia book about Stephen King, The Illustrated Stephen King Trivia Book (which is why I review his book here in “Almost King”), and I must say that I’m impressed.

  When the book starts off you directly feel the inspiration King’s Dreamcatcher must have had. In Blue November Storms, like in Dreamcatcher, you have a bunch of friends who have known each other from when they where children. They all shared an event, which as children really tied them together, just like the kids in Dreamcatcher.

  The friends have a cabin in the woods where they go to hunt from time to time, also as in Dreamcatcher. As you can see, the references to King’s book are huge, and what you at first are tempted to believe is a recap of King’s book quickly develops into its own story.

  When you get behind all these likenesses you quickly see that Brian has crafted his own story, and a very well-told story it is. It all begins when one of the friends, Steve, gets a phone call from another of the friends, Adam (who is assumed to have been dead for a long time). Adam tells the others he wants to meet them and make a visit to the cabin.

  They all join in, but while they are at the cabin a big meteor storm collides with Earth and terrible things start to happen. The animals in the forest start getting smarter…and hungrier. This is the beginning of a cat-and-mouse game that can only end in disaster…

  Brian has done a good job of telling the story, but there are some weaknesses in it. The first and biggest one is that we don’t get a good explanation as to why Adam faked his death (he says that he couldn’t take it, but that seems a bit weak…) and why he is returning now? Why does he want to go to the cabin? Is it a coincidence? Also, the event that led up to him faking his death is just mentioned in passing and not explained fully…well, it’s explained, but too quickly, if you ask me.

  After reading the book I get the feeling that Brian had a much longer book in mind when he wrote it (this one is just ninety-seven pages long). I get the feeling that parts have been cut out of it or shortened. If this is the case, I really hope he published it as it was intended. I really liked the story.

  Lilja’s final words about Blue November Storms

  Get Blue November Storms, read it and enjoy. I had a really good time reading it.

  ****

  Masters of Horror 1-6 (TV Show)

  Posted: June 3, 2006

  Masters of Horror is just what the name says: it’s thirteen of the masters of horror brought together by Mick Garris. They all have one-hour episodes, and together they make season one of Masters of Horror (season two will premier around Halloween this year). In this review I’m taking a closer look at the first six episodes.

  This series feels very fresh and almost like a new and more modern version of Twilight Zone or Tales From the Darkside. And since the episodes are as long as they are, it almost feels like they are all standalone movies, even though they are part of this TV series. The entire project feels very interesting.

  The six I have taken a look at are:

  Incident On and Off A Mountain Road by Don Coscarelli

  In this episode, Ellen is in a car accident on a lonely road. When she gets out of the car (relatively unharmed) she sees a man who she thinks is her salvation, but as it turns out he is the opposite: her doom.

  Fortunately for Ellen, her husband was obses
sed with her learning to take care of herself and she has skills that she now finds very useful. This is a pretty intense episode and the ending is very unexpected, to say the least.

  Sick Girl by Lucky McKee

  Sick Girl is the story of Ida, who is a scientist who specializes in bugs…and takes her work home with her. Her apartment is filled with different bugs and she treats them like any other pet…much to her landlord’s distress.

  Around the same time she gets involved in a love affair with a woman by the name of Misty, she receives a package on her doorstep. In the package is a bug she has never seen before. She thinks it’s a bit unusual, but is very happy to have him…until he escapes and starts acting very strange, to say the least. This episode is a typical Twilight Zone episode.

  H.P. Lovecraft’s Dreams in the Witchhouse by Stuart Gordon

  Here we see a student Walter, who manages to open a door to another dimension in which he encounters a witch in the shape of his neighbor. As time goes by the witch wants him to start sacrificing children, and Walter finds it harder and harder to resist.

  At the end he can’t tell what’s real and what’s not, and he finds himself going crazy…or, is it all real?

  Jenifer by Dario Argento

  Jenifer is probably the best one of these first six episodes. It tells the story of how a cop named Frank saves Jenifer, a disfigured girl, from a man who is about to chop her up into pieces. What he doesn’t know is that saving Jenifer is the biggest mistake he’ll ever make…

  In the lead role we see Steven Weber, who has become one of my favorite actors. And, as usual, he doesn’t disappoint you.